Shelley Head Beach, tucked within Yuraygir National Park on the North Coast of NSW, is a remote and wild stretch of sand accessible only via the Yuraygir Coastal Walk — a 6 km hike south from Angourie or 7 km north from Lake Arragan. This pristine beach offers superb swimming in unspoiled waters and is the gateway to Little Shelley Beach and the intriguing Shelley Caves. Spring brings spectacular coastal wildflower blooms among the surrounding heathlands. The walk-in-only access keeps crowds away, rewarding adventurous snorkelers with a truly secluded ocean experience.
Shelley Head Beach
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Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 7.2 sWind Speed 8.6 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Remote location — no immediate emergency services
Shelley Head Beach is a 6–7 km walk from the nearest road access, with no phone reception in many areas. Snorkelers must be self-sufficient and prepared for emergencies.
Moderate risk: Rough surf and rips
Exposed beach on the NSW coast subject to strong surf conditions and rip currents, especially when swells are running. Swim only on calm days and exercise caution.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Shelley Head Beach is walk-in only via the Yuraygir Coastal Walk. From the south, hike 7 km north from Lake Arragan campground. From the north, hike 6 km south from the Angourie access point off the Pacific Highway near Yamba. There is no vehicle access directly to the beach.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Angourie carpark (off Spenser Street, Angourie) or at Lake Arragan campground carpark. Both are unsealed but suitable for standard vehicles. A National Parks entry fee applies.
toilets
Park entry fee of $8 per vehicle per day applies in Yuraygir National Park.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports